Sports could soon be a thing of the past at the University of California Santa Cruz.Students will vote May 11 on whether to keep NCAA sports at their school."Campus leadership (is) watching the budget get a little smaller every year (and they have) had to make hard choices about where we spend money. Unfortunately, athletics is one of those areas that doesn't have a lot of support," said Scott Hernandez-Jason, the director of campus media relations.The school currently spends about $1 million each year on Division III athletics, and only about 250 students, or 2 percent of undergraduates, participate in them.Those sports include basketball, soccer, track, cross country, tennis, swimming, diving, golf and volleyball."I feel like we should keep the sports here," said freshman Courtney Zuniga."Because I'm not athletic, I wouldn't vote to save the sports and pay more only because it's not something a majority of the students are benefiting from," said sophomore Alice Lindo.If students vote to keep sports, next year fees will go up from $5 per quarter to about $70.If they vote no, NCAA sports will be phased out by the end of 2017 and the famous UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs will be the first school in the UC system to completely get rid of athletics."I don't see the benefits of it for myself especially when that money could be going toward things like the (agriculture) department, the engineering department, expanding our gym," said sophomore David Durkin.Junior Kurt Walsh said, "College sports are something that's an integral part of any college. It's something that brings a school group together. It's something that brings people together mutually, and to get rid of that is something that does the school a disservice."The campus also has a number of club sports with nearly 1,000 participants. Those will not count in this decision. Also, no students are attending UCSC on sports scholarships.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. —

Sports could soon be a thing of the past at the University of California Santa Cruz.

Students will vote May 11 on whether to keep NCAA sports at their school.

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"Campus leadership (is) watching the budget get a little smaller every year (and they have) had to make hard choices about where we spend money. Unfortunately, athletics is one of those areas that doesn't have a lot of support," said Scott Hernandez-Jason, the director of campus media relations.

The school currently spends about $1 million each year on Division III athletics, and only about 250 students, or 2 percent of undergraduates, participate in them.

"I feel like we should keep the sports here," said freshman Courtney Zuniga.

"Because I'm not athletic, I wouldn't vote to save the sports and pay more only because it's not something a majority of the students are benefiting from," said sophomore Alice Lindo.

If students vote to keep sports, next year fees will go up from $5 per quarter to about $70.

If they vote no, NCAA sports will be phased out by the end of 2017 and the famous UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs will be the first school in the UC system to completely get rid of athletics.

"I don't see the benefits of it for myself especially when that money could be going toward things like the (agriculture) department, the engineering department, expanding our gym," said sophomore David Durkin.

Junior Kurt Walsh said, "College sports are something that's an integral part of any college. It's something that brings a school group together. It's something that brings people together mutually, and to get rid of that is something that does the school a disservice."

The campus also has a number of club sports with nearly 1,000 participants. Those will not count in this decision. Also, no students are attending UCSC on sports scholarships.